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When Dolfans watch Matt Ryan lead Atlanta against Green Bay Saturday night, there are sure to be a few more conversations about whether Miami did the right thing in using the No. 1 pick in the 2008 draft on Jake Long, thus leaving Ryan to the Falcons.

Larry Lacewell can add a bit of fuel to that fire.

Lacewell served as scouting director of the Cowboys from 1992-2005. He hired Jeff Ireland as national scout in 2001 and was replaced by Ireland when he retired.

One of the more telling decisions in Cowboys’ history occurred shortly before Lacewell arrived. The Cowboys had the No. 1 pick in the 1989 draft, and there was a raging debate as to whether they should take offensive lineman Tony Mandarich or quarterback Troy Aikman.

“As I heard it, (General Manager) Tex Schramm wanted Mandarich and Jimmy Johnson, who had just come aboard as coach along with (owner) Jerry Jones, wanted Aikman. Jimmy wound up getting his way and the rest is history.” Of course, it only adds to the story that while Aikman won three Super Bowls and is now a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Mandarich played seven nondescript seasons and is better remembered for his connection to steroids. Also, Jones fired Schramm later that year and has served as GM ever since.

Lacewell doesn’t know if it was Bill Parcells or Ireland who made the call on Long in Miami, but he contends it was the wrong choice.

“You can find left tackles. Maybe not great ones, but you can find them. If you don’t have an established quarterback, you’re going to struggle. After we lost Aikman (to retirement after the 2000 season), we staggered around forever.”

Five different quarterbacks – Quincy Carter, Chad Hutchinson, Vinny Testaverde and Drew Bledsoe – led the Cowboys in passing over the next five years, during which time their combined record was 35-45, with one playoff appearance. Only when Tony Romo came along in 2006, Parcells’ last season as coach, did the Cowboys become a contender again.

Lacewell isn’t sure what the Dolphins have in Chad Henne, but knows what they don’t have: An established QB.

“That’s a problem, for both Ireland and (coach) Tony (Sparano). When you’re preparing for the next season and you don’t know who your quarterback is going to be, it’s a big hurdle to cross.”